My MP, Nic Dakin, raised an important question on pancreatic cancer in last week’s Prime Minister’s Questions. Nic sited Kevin and his mum Jean, and the fact that although their deaths were 40 years apart, nothing at all had changed in terms of survival rates for this disease in all of that time. In effect, the medics could offer Kevin no better a chance of survival in 2009 than they could his mum in 1969. Given that pancreatic cancer has historically received only c1% of the research spend, it’s not surprising that little progress has been made. Nic asked the Prime Minister to champion a significant increase in spending on pancreatic cancer. The Prime Minister responded to say that there had been a lot of attention on certain cancers over the years and it was important that appropriate attention was given to cancers that are proving more difficult to deal with. I have written to the Prime Minister giving her some background as to why this is important and that those of us that have been affected by pancreatic cancer hope that the words of her response to Nic Dakin will translate into the action that we are all so desperate to see. Not only is Nic’s question important to those of us who have been affected by pancreatic cancer but it is important to many who have yet to know that they will be affected. Approximately 9,000 people a year are diagnosed and I’m guessing many of those people will be like I was prior to Kev’s diagnosis – absolutely no idea of how brutal this cancer is and how much it has been neglected over the years. It really is in everyone’s interest to see better outcomes for pancreatic cancer, none of us are immune and it can affect anyone at any age.

I know that Nic Dakin MP is committed to raising the profile of this disease wherever he can and I am very grateful to have such a fantastic MP that really listens to his constituents. Perhaps you might consider contacting your MP to let them know how important this matter is.